Predictive screening with iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and neurons on high speed / high throughout calcium imaging

Human iPSC technology and the Hamamatsu FDSS/uCell screening platform bring relevant biology and predictive data acquisition to early drug discovery and toxicity screening efforts. Human cell types differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) recapitulate normal and patho-physiological native cellular behavior while the FDSS/uCell platform enables phenotypic and mechanistic investigation at high throughput rates. This presentation will highlight recent advances demonstrating; (1) the ability for discovery-based screening in neurons and cardiomyocytes across several induced and patient-derived disease phenotypes (Parkinson’s, cardiac hypertrophy, etc) and (2) prediction and mechanistic resolution of proarrhythmia and drug-drug interactions for toxicity and safety pharmacology assessments. These case studies will demonstrate the ease of predictive screening with iPSC-derived tissue cells and Ca2+ imaging from Cellular Dynamics International and Hamamatsu, respectively while illustrating the value of using human material and functional readouts for early and accurate answers.

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Beatriz Freitas

Field Application ScientistCellular Dynamics International

Dr. Freitas received her Ph.D. in Molecular Endocrinology with a focus in from Harvard University and Federal University of Sao Paulo with an emphasis on hormone-based neuronal regulation. During this time, she investigated glial activation of thyroid hormone and subsequent effects on neuronal metabolism using a variety of cutting edge co-culture techniques to investigate protein activation and ubiquitination. Dr. Freitas then completed her post-doctoral training at the University of California, San Diego in the Pediatrics Department where she studied the role of iPSC-derived glial cells in a neuro-inflammation model for autism. She has been at CDI since 2015 as a Field Application Scientist where she is leveraging her in-depth training in neurobiology to help others implement and explore a variety of new stem-cell derived cell types and applications.